Adam Taurus/Behind the Scenes

Throughout the production of a series, a lot goes on behind the scenes in regards to planning and design, which often go through multiple stages before resulting in the final version that is seen on screen. Some concepts and ideas can have an effect on the show and characters, and unexpected occurrences during production can also lead to changes and additions to the plans for the show.

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Character Basis

Adam Taurus alludes to the Beast from Beauty and the Beast. His allusion sets him as a reverse version of the Beast - one whom only becomes more beastly, beyond Beauty's help, rather than being redeemed by her. This allusion has had the following influences on the character and show:

In the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast, the Beast/Prince's name is Adam.

His emblem is a wilting rose. In the fairy tale, the curse placed on the Beast would become permanent when the wilting rose he possessed lost its last petal.

He has horns, like the Beast in the Disney adaptation of the tale.

Adam, like Disney's depiction of the Beast, has blue eyes.

Like Disney's depiction of the Beast, he dies from a stab wound.

Adam's card information in RWBY: Amity Arena references the Beast: "The final traces of love, the beauty he let go, never returns, and as the last petal falls, Adam is cursed to forever remain a beast. Because, in this tale as old as time, there is no happy ending. In this story... HE is the monster."[1]

"As the last petal falls, Adam is cursed to forever remain a beast" refers to how, in the fairy tale, the Beast owned a rose that acted as a countdown for his curse. It was said that, when the last petal fell, the curse would become permanent, causing him to remain a beast for the rest of his life.

"In this tale as old as time" refers to a song from the Disney adaptation, which has the lyrics "Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the Beast."

Role For Another Character's Allusion

Some characters stand in as a certain role for another character's allusion, separate from their own. Adam stands in as Gaston for Blake's allusion to Belle, from Beauty and the Beast:

His obsessive love for her drives him to violence in the face of her rejection.

Both characters are generally perceived by others as a charismatic and heroic figure, but are actually anything but.

Adam, like Disney's depiction of Gaston, has blue eyes.

Yang Xiao Long catching Adam's sword could be a reference to the confrontation between Gaston and the Beast at the end of Beauty and the Beast where Beast catches the object Gaston is trying to bludgeon him with.

Like Disney's depiction of Gaston, he dies after falling from a great height.

Appearance

This version of his model appears to be wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, a pair of black gloves and black boots with gray soles. His black pants have straps around the legs - two around the left leg, one around the right. The higher strap on the left leg has three kunai on it. Strapped to his back is a plate that has his sword's sheath attached to it. A white mask covers the upper half of his face, and his spiky hair is bright red. He appears to be wielding a weapon that is made up of a rifle with a short barrel and a sword blade running alongside the barrel. This weapon appears to glow yellow when he uses an attack that produces fire.

Production

After Volume 3, Rooster Teeth changed animation software from Poser Pro 2013 to Autodesk Maya. With this change, the animation department also made all new models for RWBY. Adam's horns were redone to more closely resemble horns.